Distractions

Distracted driving is a growing problem in Colorado and throughout the country. When someone driving an 80,000 pound big rig is distracted, there is frighteningly high risk of a catastrophic truck accident. At Bell & Pollock, our attorneys know how dangerous accidents caused by distracted truck drivers can be in Colorado. We know because we have worked with so many families dealing with the aftermath of a serious truck accident. That’s why we work so hard to get injury victims a settlement or verdict for their accident.

Distracted driving is among the common causes of truck accidents in Colorado. In our modern age, there are many different ways drivers can become distracted on the road. Texting while driving is against the law nationwide for commercial truckers. A recent federal law prohibits drivers from using any kind of handheld cellphone or texting device while operating a commercial motor vehicle, even when stopped in traffic. Truck drivers caught breaking this law can face a steep fine.

Other examples of distracted truck driving include:

• Operating a GPS device in a truck
• Talking to a trucking company dispatcher
• Eating while driving
• Watching television while driving
• Operating MP3 players and radios
• Smoking, eating or drinking
• Grooming
• Talking to passengers

All it takes is one split second for a truck driver to look away from the road to cause a serious truck accident. Getting injury victims the money they rightfully deserve after an 18-wheeler accident or tractor-trailer accident is often not easy. That’s why some law firms avoid taking on such difficult cases. We see things differently. We believe the people facing the toughest legal challenges deserve our help even more. We have successfully won countless cases over the years, and we’re proud to put our knowledge and experience to work for you.

Speeding

Truck drivers often face pressure to get to their destination as fast as possible. That’s one of the reasons why you might notice truck drivers exceeding the speed limit on busy roads and highways like I-70 in Colorado. Speeding truckers might be trying to “do their job,” but they are putting everyone on the road at risk.

Unfortunately, truck drivers who travel too fast for road or weather conditions can serious truck accidents. Speeding is among the most common causes of truck accidents in Colorado. And when these accidents happen, the injuries can be severe or even fatal, often resulting in a wrongful death lawsuit in Colorado. That’s why it’s important you have a Colorado truck accident attorney on your side, looking out for your best interests.

Speeding by a truck driver can result in the following potentially catastrophic situations:

• Inability to stop in time to avoid a crash
• Loss of control of the truck, which might leave the road
• Jackknifing
• Hydroplaning on slick roads
• Tipping over after a loss of control

Speeding might seem harmless compared to other driving behavior such as drunk driving or texting while driving. Professional truck drivers, however, are trained to drive a truck safely and are legally responsible to obey the rules of the road. Commercial drivers are held to higher standards than drivers of small passenger vehicles.

When truck drivers break the law or federal regulations, they need to be held responsible. They also are agents of the trucking company that owns the truck and hired them. We will hold that trucking company accountable if you or a loved one was injured or a loved one was killed in an accident.

Truck Driver Fatigue

Falling asleep at the wheel poses a serious threat to the driver and everyone else on the road. When truck drivers fall asleep, the consequences can be particularly disastrous. It’s not hard to imagine a horrific crash scene involving a truck driver who fell asleep while operating an 80,000 pound 18-wheeler. Our fatigued truck driver accident attorneys in Denver urge anyone, especially truck drivers, to pull over and rest if they are feeling too tired.

Unfortunately, tired truck drivers choose to keep driving, sometimes because they face pressure to meet deadlines. In the case of truck drivers, federal laws bar drivers from staying on the road too long without taking a break. According to these so-called “Hours of Service” rules, commercial truck drivers must take mandatory breaks and can only operate a truck for a limited amount of time each day. These laws exist to prevent against truck driver fatigue accidents, yet these accidents continue to take place far too often, making them one of the most common causes of truck accidents in Colorado.

Throughout Colorado, victims of truck accidents caused by tired truckers rely on Bell & Pollock to make things right. Based in the Denver suburb of Greenwood Village and serving people statewide, the Colorado tractor-trailer accident lawyers at Bell & Pollock have years of experience handling such difficult cases. The truck driver might deny falling asleep. We know how to thoroughly investigate such accidents and hold truck companies accountable. We can pore over every detail of the accident and determine if there were any Hours of Service violations. We will not rest until justice is served.